Associate Editor, SLJ

Media Source provides a foundation of trust to the library market. Our five iconic brand brands provide quality products, purveyors of superior services, and thought leaders: Junior Library Guild, Library Journal, School Library Journal, The Horn Book, and AKJ Education. Delivering what our customers need to achieve their goals; high quality independent reading offerings, thought leadership, data and solutions and access to industry leaders across the spectrum.

School Library Journal (SLJ), the leading trade magazine serving K-12 and public librarians, seeks an Associate Editor with deep expertise in picture books and board books to join a highly engaged, mission‑driven editorial team to select, assign, and edit reviews for print and online.

SLJ offers a fast‑paced and immersive environment with work that is varied, substantive, and closely connected to the pleasures of reading, the importance of books for children, and the vital role libraries play in learning.

This role is an excellent fit for a librarian interested in transitioning into editorial work while continuing to apply their subject knowledge, professional judgment, and love of children’s literature. It is also an excellent fit for those working in publishing or teaching who would like to apply their skills in support of selecting and reviewing titles for libraries.

The position is fully remote and reports to the Reviews Director.

What You’ll Do

• Research, discover, evaluate, and select titles to review for the school and public library audience. Assign titles to reviewers. Edit reviews. Manage deadlines. Chair best books committees.
• Apply strong editorial judgment grounded in knowledge of core titles, authors, trends, and standards in children’s publishing and librarianship.
• Work confidently and independently to meet regular, firm deadlines in a high‑volume workflow.
• Communicate thoughtfully and professionally with colleagues, reviewers, publishers, and other stakeholders.
• Stay current with the publishing and library marketplace, including emerging voices, formats, and trends.
• Balance speed with accuracy, producing clean, polished copy addressed to librarians.
• Undertake the work understanding that publishing and librarianship are shaped by the full range of voices and communities they serve.

What We’re Looking For

• At least 3-5 years of professional experience as a librarian, an editor, or a closely related role or in roles with transferable skills.
• Demonstrated expertise in picture books and board books, including familiarity with core collections, authors, and the publishing landscape.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills and a strong command of grammar, usage, and style.
• The ability to work independently and energetically through a deadline-driven, volume-based workflow.
• Excellent communication skills and sound professional judgment.
• Comfort working in a fast‑paced, remote editorial environment.

Why This Role Is Special

This position offers the chance to:

• Use your expertise in a new, intellectually engaging way.
• Be deeply connected to children’s literature and publishing.
• Do meaningful work that supports librarians, educators, and readers.
• Join a collaborative team that values a well-crafted sentence, the abiding pleasures of a good book, knowledge, skill, and the chance to make every issue we publish better than the last.

This is absorbing, purposeful, and deeply enjoyable work for people who care about books and reading and who are at their best when thinking and writing well. If you know picture books inside and out, recognize core authors and titles on sight, and care about quality, context, and clarity, this role will feel both challenging and satisfying.

Media Source is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to equity and inclusion, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.